Beauvoir PreK vs GDS PreK

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loved Beauvoir but would never want to go through the outplacement process again. Very stressful and truth be told many families end up unhappy with final placement.

Could you elaborate on this? I've heard that their outplacement is really good and that of the kids who don't go on to STA/NCS, the majority of the rest get their 1st or 2nd choice school. Is this not accurate?

Not the PP but the stress is caused by the parents realization that the path to HYPMS will be harder/impossible (in their minds) because it doesn't pass through STA/NCS.

If this is thr stress factor then it won't be an issue for me. If my DC wants to go to one of those schools great, if not that's great too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DC was accepted to both. We are about 90% sure we are going to accept at Beauvoir. Is there any advice current parents (or previous) can provide? Any standout teachers in particular? Helpful administrators? Things to be cautious about or avoid? Does anyone think we are making the wrong choice and should go with GDS. Our family is a traditional family.
We aren't conservative, but we also aren't ultra liberal. We do want our DC to learn to be accepting of all people. Ultimately, we are looking for a nurturing and academically challenging environment that fosters a love a learning. We are leaning towards Beauvoir because it felt fun for children and we got a better feel for the curriculum they provide than we did when touring GDS. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Congratulations on your choices. Beauvoir parent here. We have been happy at Beauvoir and for us the outplacement process has been a breeze for both of our children. Several children have gone to GDS from Beauvoir for 4th grade each year so that is always an option to apply to gds again when your child graduates Beauvoir. Good luck in your decision.

Thanks! We are at 99% sure now we are going to accept at Beauvoir. We reached out to the psychologist who admitted the WPPSI-IV to our DC to let her know our results and to ask if she had any insight into which would be a better fit based on her observations of our DC. She said we had great options but based on what she observed she recommended Beauvoir because she believes our DC will initially do better in a structured environment. She said if we opted for GDS she would recommend we explain to the teacher our DC responds better to clear directions than directions worded as options. She said she thinks overtime that will change but for now she thinks Beauvoir would be an overall better fit. I really appreciated her candidness about her observations, so we are ready to sign the contract barring something crazy happening at the accepted parent's reception.

I call troll

+1. OP's grammar is horrible.

[Anonymous]

Look at the typical number of years of teaching experience. Unless you believe that doesn't matter much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at the typical number of years of teaching experience. Unless you believe that doesn't matter much.

Can you be direct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DC was accepted to both. We are about 90% sure we are going to accept at Beauvoir. Is there any advice current parents (or previous) can provide? Any standout teachers in particular? Helpful administrators? Things to be cautious about or avoid? Does anyone think we are making the wrong choice and should go with GDS. Our family is a traditional family.
We aren't conservative, but we also aren't ultra liberal. We do want our DC to learn to be accepting of all people. Ultimately, we are looking for a nurturing and academically challenging environment that fosters a love a learning. We are leaning towards Beauvoir because it felt fun for children and we got a better feel for the curriculum they provide than we did when touring GDS. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Congratulations on your choices. Beauvoir parent here. We have been happy at Beauvoir and for us the outplacement process has been a breeze for both of our children. Several children have gone to GDS from Beauvoir for 4th grade each year so that is always an option to apply to gds again when your child graduates Beauvoir. Good luck in your decision.

Thanks! We are at 99% sure now we are going to accept at Beauvoir. We reached out to the psychologist who admitted the WPPSI-IV to our DC to let her know our results and to ask if she had any insight into which would be a better fit based on her observations of our DC. She said we had great options but based on what she observed she recommended Beauvoir because she believes our DC will initially do better in a structured environment. She said if we opted for GDS she would recommend we explain to the teacher our DC responds better to clear directions than directions worded as options. She said she thinks overtime that will change but for now she thinks Beauvoir would be an overall better fit. I really appreciated her candidness about her observations, so we are ready to sign the contract barring something crazy happening at the accepted parent's reception.

I call troll

+1. OP's grammar is horrible.

You both are idiots. How's that for good grammar? It's a friggin blog board for God's sake. I'm certainly not going to spend time editing for grammar. Since you have nothing constructive to add, please move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DC was accepted to both. We are about 90% sure we are going to accept at Beauvoir. Is there any advice current parents (or previous) can provide? Any standout teachers in particular? Helpful administrators? Things to be cautious about or avoid? Does anyone think we are making the wrong choice and should go with GDS. Our family is a traditional family.
We aren't conservative, but we also aren't ultra liberal. We do want our DC to learn to be accepting of all people. Ultimately, we are looking for a nurturing and academically challenging environment that fosters a love a learning. We are leaning towards Beauvoir because it felt fun for children and we got a better feel for the curriculum they provide than we did when touring GDS. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Congratulations on your choices. Beauvoir parent here. We have been happy at Beauvoir and for us the outplacement process has been a breeze for both of our children. Several children have gone to GDS from Beauvoir for 4th grade each year so that is always an option to apply to gds again when your child graduates Beauvoir. Good luck in your decision.

Thanks! We are at 99% sure now we are going to accept at Beauvoir. We reached out to the psychologist who admitted the WPPSI-IV to our DC to let her know our results and to ask if she had any insight into which would be a better fit based on her observations of our DC. She said we had great options but based on what she observed she recommended Beauvoir because she believes our DC will initially do better in a structured environment. She said if we opted for GDS she would recommend we explain to the teacher our DC responds better to clear directions than directions worded as options. She said she thinks overtime that will change but for now she thinks Beauvoir would be an overall better fit. I really appreciated her candidness about her observations, so we are ready to sign the contract barring something crazy happening at the accepted parent's reception.

You should press your tester on this. Having sent two kids through GDS, and being an educator myself, I frankly find this laughable. Your tester is being very irresponsible in her description of GDS pedagogy in the LS. The independence that you find in the GDS LS has *nothing* to do with giving young children options rather than clear directions when doing school work or learning in class. In fact, I would guess that the style of instruction at GDS and Beauvoir are very similar and based upon what is developmentally appropriate for a child's age. The differences in the two schools have much to do with content--e.g., GDS teaches about racism and differences from PK (of course, in an age-appropriate way) whereas Beauvoir tends to shield children from these realities until the children are older. (Frankly, this baffles me because the most recent brain research shows that unless you talk to children *directly* about racism, they will harbor racist views--see Nurtureshock.) Because GDS was founded by African American families and Jewish families in 1945, when DC was still a segregated city by law and the world was still reeling from the Holocaust, the mission of the school takes very, very seriously social justice issues. Kids at GDS are given a lot of responsibility--so, for example, the children deliver milk at lunch to all the classes; they walk from their homerooms to their next class (science lab, music, PE, etc.) on their own--and they all manage to make it!; they are allowed their own books to check out at the library (a PK-8 library) and aren't restricted in their choices; there is no dress code, etc.etc. I am actually kind of amazed by how self-regulating the kids are by the time they reach 4th grade. I think it is true that kids at GDS are louder than kids at other schools, but actually, I kind of love it. They are so happy to be at school and they show it. It's a joyous place to be.

All that being said, I have the utmost respect for Beavoir. I considered it for my children, too, and was blown away--as anyone would be--by the facilities. The teachers and administrators are top notch, and the families that I know there (yes, we are friends!) are very, very happy there. You are blessed to have to amazing options, but please make your choice based upon accurate information, not upon your tester's unfortunately inaccurate description of the schools.

[Anonymous]

Another GDS parent. I understand what your tester was saying, OP, and I think it's real. It's the difference between "here's how to do this" and "do this" (with the understanding that the teacher is there to help if you need it). My kid strongly preferred the latter approach, but it did sometimes have the effect of making mountains out of molehills.

And, yes, a child's preferences or needs wrt this issue could easily change over time. It's not "now or never" and, with Beauvoir, it's a foregone conclusion that you will have -- and must take -- the opportunity to reevaluate your DC's needs and learning style again in a few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another GDS parent. I understand what your tester was saying, OP, and I think it's real. It's the difference between "here's how to do this" and "do this" (with the understanding that the teacher is there to help if you need it). My kid strongly preferred the latter approach, but it did sometimes have the effect of making mountains out of molehills.

And, yes, a child's preferences or needs wrt this issue could easily change over time. It's not "now or never" and, with Beauvoir, it's a foregone conclusion that you will have -- and must take -- the opportunity to reevaluate your DC's needs and learning style again in a few years.

Do you seriously believe that Beavuoir teachers tell their students, "Do this," while GDS teachers tell their students, "Here's how to do this"--and if you do seriously believe that this is a difference between the two schools that such differences are deliberately part of the pedagogical styles of the two schools vs individual teachers?

[Anonymous]

No, I believe that Beauvoir teachers tell their students "here's how to do this" and GDS teachers are more likely to say "do this" and let students approach "how" in their own way. (Which could mean a variety of things, depending on a teacher's style -- e.g. laying out a range of different approaches, being non-directive but available to help, checking in and talking through what a child is doing and why).

Pedagogically, it's a difference between teacher-led and student-led learning -- and, just to be clear, it's a continuum and I don't think either school is on the far end of the spectrum. But arguably the two schools are on different sides of the middle (which is the tester's claim)

[Anonymous]

And some kids will be more comfortable on one side or the other.

[Anonymous]

Another GDS parent here. I am sure Beauvoir is a great school, I am just going to talk about GDS because it is the school I know first hand.
I think GDS has an amazing Early Childhood curriculum. It is a nurturing environment, were they teach children to learn -not just things-, they nurture kindness, empathy, respect for others and intellectual curiosity. I truly love the school.
That said, GDS was since day one -we attended the first open house when my son was 1 year old- the place we wanted him to be. It matches perfectly with our family lifestyle and values, it is -apart from a top option academically- what we believe is the best option pedagogically and in terms of "education for life". If you feel the same way for Beauvoir, you should probably chose that option. If I were you, tough, I would probably attend both open houses / receptions and try to gather as much info as possible before re-affirming my decision. It won't hurt. Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, I believe that Beauvoir teachers tell their students "here's how to do this" and GDS teachers are more likely to say "do this" and let students approach "how" in their own way. (Which could mean a variety of things, depending on a teacher's style -- e.g. laying out a range of different approaches, being non-directive but available to help, checking in and talking through what a child is doing and why).

Pedagogically, it's a difference between teacher-led and student-led learning -- and, just to be clear, it's a continuum and I don't think either school is on the far end of the spectrum. But arguably the two schools are on different sides of the middle (which is the tester's claim)

Can you give me a concrete example of this? I have a hard time imagining what this actually means? Do Beauvoir teachers not allow students to approach problems or books from different ways?

[Anonymous]

Of course, Beauvior teachers allow students to approach problems or books in different ways (and, of course, GDS teachers will show kids "how" -- or "how's"!). Especially in early education (and at schools where no one's lecturing and having kids doing piles of worksheets at this age), the difference will often be in emphasis or starting point.

The best way to evaluate whether these two schools are different (and how and which approach you prefer) is to spend a few hours in classrooms at each.

I'm not invested in characterizing the differences between the two schools -- I know GDS well, and Beauvoir only slightly -- just trying to explain what the tester was getting at and why it wasn't a ridiculous thing to say. Some kids get overwhelmed when tasks are open-ended or when they're given a wide variety of ways to proceed up front. GDS is unlikely to be a good fit for those kids or for kids who are like that at a particular age or stage of development.

I've seen this disconnect happen at GDS. I also had the experience of seeing one such kid transform from being scattered and inattentive to being very focused, strategic and *creative* when presented with a context where rules and relationships were highly structured.

Some kids (hell, some people) think or work better when they have something to react to rather than an amorphous sea of possibilities. That doesn't make them sheeple and it doesn't mean that teachers who provide more direction initially are authoritarian. Nor does it mean that parents who choose a more structured environment are depriving their children of the opportunity to become independent.

And, again, these two schools aren't wildly different. Choose the one you think your kid will like best based on observation and, maybe, cohort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loved Beauvoir but would never want to go through the outplacement process again. Very stressful and truth be told many families end up unhappy with final placement.

Could you elaborate on this? I've heard that their outplacement is really good and that of the kids who don't go on to STA/NCS, the majority of the rest get their 1st or 2nd choice school. Is this not accurate?

Most kids go to STA and NCS and most that don't go that route is by their own choosing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DC was accepted to both. We are about 90% sure we are going to accept at Beauvoir. Is there any advice current parents (or previous) can provide? Any standout teachers in particular? Helpful administrators? Things to be cautious about or avoid? Does anyone think we are making the wrong choice and should go with GDS. Our family is a traditional family.
We aren't conservative, but we also aren't ultra liberal. We do want our DC to learn to be accepting of all people. Ultimately, we are looking for a nurturing and academically challenging environment that fosters a love a learning. We are leaning towards Beauvoir because it felt fun for children and we got a better feel for the curriculum they provide than we did when touring GDS. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Congratulations on your choices. Beauvoir parent here. We have been happy at Beauvoir and for us the outplacement process has been a breeze for both of our children. Several children have gone to GDS from Beauvoir for 4th grade each year so that is always an option to apply to gds again when your child graduates Beauvoir. Good luck in your decision.

Thanks! We are at 99% sure now we are going to accept at Beauvoir. We reached out to the psychologist who admitted the WPPSI-IV to our DC to let her know our results and to ask if she had any insight into which would be a better fit based on her observations of our DC. She said we had great options but based on what she observed she recommended Beauvoir because she believes our DC will initially do better in a structured environment. She said if we opted for GDS she would recommend we explain to the teacher our DC responds better to clear directions than directions worded as options. She said she thinks overtime that will change but for now she thinks Beauvoir would be an overall better fit. I really appreciated her candidness about her observations, so we are ready to sign the contract barring something crazy happening at the accepted parent's reception.

You should press your tester on this. Having sent two kids through GDS, and being an educator myself, I frankly find this laughable. Your tester is being very irresponsible in her description of GDS pedagogy in the LS. The independence that you find in the GDS LS has *nothing* to do with giving young children options rather than clear directions when doing school work or learning in class. In fact, I would guess that the style of instruction at GDS and Beauvoir are very similar and based upon what is developmentally appropriate for a child's age. The differences in the two schools have much to do with content--e.g., GDS teaches about racism and differences from PK (of course, in an age-appropriate way) whereas Beauvoir tends to shield children from these realities until the children are older. (Frankly, this baffles me because the most recent brain research shows that unless you talk to children *directly* about racism, they will harbor racist views--see Nurtureshock.) Because GDS was founded by African American families and Jewish families in 1945, when DC was still a segregated city by law and the world was still reeling from the Holocaust, the mission of the school takes very, very seriously social justice issues. Kids at GDS are given a lot of responsibility--so, for example, the children deliver milk at lunch to all the classes; they walk from their homerooms to their next class (science lab, music, PE, etc.) on their own--and they all manage to make it!; they are allowed their own books to check out at the library (a PK-8 library) and aren't restricted in their choices; there is no dress code, etc.etc. I am actually kind of amazed by how self-regulating the kids are by the time they reach 4th grade. I think it is true that kids at GDS are louder than kids at other schools, but actually, I kind of love it. They are so happy to be at school and they show it. It's a joyous place to be.

All that being said, I have the utmost respect for Beavoir. I considered it for my children, too, and was blown away--as anyone would be--by the facilities. The teachers and administrators are top notch, and the families that I know there (yes, we are friends!) are very, very happy there. You are blessed to have to amazing options, but please make your choice based upon accurate information, not upon your tester's unfortunately inaccurate description of the schools.

Thanks for your response and insight. I did occur to me that our tester may have had her own biases about each school, though she did emphasize that both where great schools. She went through our DC test scores and areas of "weakness" and explained that in her experience children who exhibited this tend to better in a more structured environment. I have no idea of GDS is perceived as structured or not. My observations of both schools was that Beauvoir did appear a bit structured and traditional. However, we loved them both for very different reasons. I had to chuckle when you said GDS was loud, because I told
My DH the movement we witnessed in the hallways felt very much like public school in kids being loud and genreally happy. I found that to be kind of cool. When thinking about my own DC, who is naturally independent, which of the two environments would be the best, I felt like DC would do great in either environment recognizing she would get different things from each. Until we got offers from both I was really torn over which way to go. It was after talking to our tester we started to lean towards Beauvoir, which wasn't in anyway about something negative I perceived with GDS. In fact, I'm fairly sure we will reconsider it for 4th grade if we do go the Beauvoir route.

My perspective may be different on this, but I don't how much of the racial injustices, etc. I want my DC to learn about just yet. As a minority, I want to preserve the innocence for as long as I can. Probably a naive perspective, but my DC will spend an entire life knowing all about that topic. Anyway, really thanks for your perspective! It has helped me better understand how GDS operates.